Blower unit and motor supporting means for use therein



March 21, 1961 A. A. ATALLA 5 BLOWER UNIT AND MOTOR SUPPORTING MEANS FORUSE THEREVIN Filed May 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheei 1- INVENTOR ANWAR A.ATALLA BY w mtm A TTORNEVS March 21, 1961 A. ATALLA BLOWER UNIT ANDMOTOR SUPPORTING MEANS FOR USE THEREIN Filed May 19, 1958 FIG.9

lNl/EN TOR ANWAR A. ATALLA I32 A TTORNE VS BLOWER UNHT AND MOTORSUPPORTING MEANS FUR USE THEREIN Anwar A. Atalla, Torrington, Cnn.,assignor to The Torrington Manufacturing Company, Torrington, Conn, acorporation of Connecticut rues May 19, 1958, Ser. No. 736,212 13Claims. or. 230-117 The invention relates to a blower unit of the typedisclosed in the application of Anwar A. Atalla, Serial No. 696,537filed November 4, 1957 and entitled Blower Unit. Such a blower unit isadapted for use with warm air furnaces and with air conditioninginstallations and otherwise, said unit being of the type that includes ahousing having opposite air intake openings and having an air dischargeopening, that includes an electric motor carried by the housing, andthat includes air impelling means located within the housing and drivenby the motor and serving to draw air inwardly through the two intakeopenings and to discharge said air through the discharge opening.

The present invention relates particularly to the motor mounting meansand associated parts for a blower unit of the stated type, and it doesnot relate specifically to the other novel features of the unit asdisclosed and claimed in said prior application. The general object ofthe present invention is to provide a means for supporting or mountingthe motor of the blower unit which means is separate from the motor andis connectible with a central partition within the housing and is solocated that the motor is supported Within an opening in the partitionwith its center or" gravity in or near the plane of said partition.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a cage whichconstitutes the motor mounting means and which is primarily adapted foruse with a motor having cylindrical supporting elements adjacent theopposite ends of its casing. In accordance with this phase of theinvention, said cage includes two longitudinally spaced ringsrespectively engaging said supporting elements of said motor and alsoincludes circumaxially spaced struts extending longitudinally from eachof said rings and toward the plane of said partition together with meansadjacent said partition opening for connecting each of said struts tosaid partition.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a mountingmeans for the motor so constructed and arranged that said mounting meansand said motor in fixed connected relationship with each other areadapted for assembly movement into the housing through one of the airintake openings. A connecting means is provided which enables the motorto be held in place after assembly, this connecting means beingaccessible and manipulable through the same opening that was used formotor assembly.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide in a blower unit,or for use therein, a motor mounting cage having two half-portions whichare identical in construction, or substantially so, but which cannevertheless be so located as to hold the motor with its center ofgravity in the plane of the central partition.

Another specific but alternative object of the invention is to providein a blower unit, or for use therein, a motor mounting case having twoinitially separate halfportions, one or" which may be connected with thecentral 1 atent ice 2 of which can be connected to the central partitionafter the placing of the motor.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingspecification and claims.

The drawings show several embodiments of the invention and suchembodiments will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the constructions disclosed, and that thedrawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose,

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a blower unit of the type to which theinvention is applicable, certain parts being broken away to more clearlyshow other parts.

Fig. 2 is a right end view of the blower unit as shown in Fig. 1 withcertain parts broken away and with other parts in vertical centralsection.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line3-3 of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view looking toward the right in Fig.5 and showing one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a right view of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of theretaining nuts shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing an alternativeembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a right elevational and sectional view of the parts shown inFig. 7, the sectional portion or" the view beingtaken along the line 8 8of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 99of Fig. 8, but showing an alternative detail.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to- Fig. 9, but showing another alternativedetail.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing another alternativeembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a right view of the parts shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. 4-, but showing another alternativeembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 14 is a right view of the parts shown in Fig. 13.

Reference is made to the said application Serial No. 696,537 for variousdetails of construction not fully shown in drawings nor hereinafterfully described.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof,the main housing of the blower unit is represented at it said housingpreferably being formed of sheet metal. The shape of the housing can bewidely varied, but it is shown as being of the scroll or involute type.When the housing is of the last type, there is a longitudinal axis 12and the housing has a peripheral wall 14 which conforms to a surfacegenerated by moving a line approximately in an involute path about saidaxis 12. The housing has similar opposite parallel front and rear sideWalls 16 and 18. As shown, the peripheral Wall 14 has opposite flanges26 and 21 which engage the peripheral portions of the side walls 16 and18 and which are suitably connected therewith, as for instance, by spotwelding. The side walls 16 and 18 are provided respectively with similarlarge intake openings 22 and 2 3 which openings are concentric with theaxis 12. The housing has a relatively large peripheral discharge opening24. Two generally cylindrical shrouds 26 and 28 are fitted within thedischarge openings in the side walls, these shrouds being concentricwith the axis 12. The major portions of the shrouds are cylindrical andsaid cylindrical portions are located to a major extent within thehousing.

As will be more fully explained, the hereinafter described motor withits mounting means can be inserted partition prior to the placing of themotor and the other in one axial-direction or the other through one ofthe in"- take openings 22 and 23. .This may be the right opening 23 andthe selected opening will be referred to as the assembly opening.

A central panel or partition 30 is provided within the housing midwaybetween and parallel with the side walls 16 and 18, this partition beingformed of sheet metal and being suitably connected with the peripheralwall 14, as for instance by means of a flange 32. Said partition 30extends nearly to the discharge opening 24 and said partition providestwo substantially equal chambers within the housing 10.

The central partition 30 has an opening 34 therein concentric with theaxis 12 and an electric motor 36 is located at said opening. The motorincludes a casing 37 which is substantially smaller than said partitionopening 34 and is located therein The motor also includes a drive shaft38 having portions projecting at both ends of the casing. By means ofthe hereinafter described mounting means, the motor is supported so thatits casing 37 is symmetrically located in said partition opening 34 andsaid shaft 38 is concentric with said central axis Secured to theprojecting end portions of the motor shaft 38 are two rotary airimpellers respectively indicated as 42 and44. The impellers are providedrespectively with blades 46 and 48 uniformly spaced circumaxially.Portions of the blades of the two impellers are respectively within theshrouds 26 and 28 and said portions at their outer edges have reasonablerunning clearances with respect to the shrouds. Preferably and as shown,the two impellers 42 and 44 have the same number of blades and the saidblades of the two impellers are in circumaxially staggered relationshipwith each other as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The two impellers 42 and 44rotate in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l, and the blades 46and 48 are so pitched that they draw air in opposite directions andinwardly through the corresponding shrouds and intake openings andtoward the motor 36 and toward the panel or partition 30.

A motor mounting means is provided which is fixedly connected with themotor and which includes elements projecting radially outwardlytherefrom and located immediately adjacent the partition 30. Preferablythe motor mounting means is self-contained and it includes an annularmember or means completely surrounding a portion of said motor andfixedly but detachably connected therewith, and the motor mounting meanspreferably also 'has said outwardly projecting elements in circumaxiallyspaced relationship and all rigidly connected with said annular memberor means independently of the motor and each directly connectible withthe partition 30. Said motor and said mounting means in their fixedlyconnected relationship are smaller than the assembly opening 23 and aretherefore adapted for assembly movement into said housing through theassembly opening and toward the partition 30. Devices as hereinafterfully described are provided which are operable after assembly and whichserve to connect the spaced elements of the mounting means with thepartition 30 so as to hold said mounting means and said motor in a fixedposition with respect to the partition wherein the center of gravity ofthe motor is at least approximately in the plane of said partition.

The supporting means for the motor, as shown in Fig. 3, includes asupporting ring or strap 50 surrounding and fitting the casing 37 of themotor. Said ring or strap is located within said partition opening 34,but it preferably does not closely fit said opening. Said ring or strap50 constitutes the before-mentioned annular member or means of thesupporting means. Rigidly connected with said annular member or strap 50independently of the motor are at least three clips or ears 52, 52 whichextend radially outward beyond the periphery of said partition opening34. These ears may be connected by welding or otherwise. Said cars 52,52 are at the side of said partition 30 which faces toward said assemblyopening 23. The ears are equally spaced circumaxially and they areconnectible with the partition by means to be described.

The casing 37 of said motor 36 fits within the annular member or strap50 so as to be detachably held thereby in the stated relationship withthe panel or partition 30.

The supporting strap 50 is split and it has two spaced ears 54, 54 asshown in Fig. 1, the opening 34 having a notch 56 to receive said ears.Bolts 57 extend through holes in the said ears, and by means of saidbolts the ears 54, 54 can be drawn toward each other so as to firmlyclamp the strap 50 against the periphery of the motor casing. Thus thestrap firmly engages the motor casing 37 and serves to support saidmotor.

The before-mentioned connecting means for the motor mounting meanspreferably includes devices located in substantially fixed positions onthe partition 30. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, these devices are threadedbolts 68 which are held in fixed relationship to the partition 30. Theconnecting means also includes relatively movable devices respectivelyengageable with said fixed devices such as 68. As shown in said Figs. 1to 3, the movable devicesare threaded nuts 70 engageable with the bolts68. Said devices or nuts 70 are accessible through the assembly openingsuch as 23 and they are manipulable through said opening so that theyare engaged with said fixed devices or bolts 68 to hold said motor inplace. This arrangement makes it possible to assemble and connect themotor from one side of the housing. If the devices such as 68 were notheld in fixed relationship to the partition, it would be necessary for asecond workman to reach through the opposite opening 22 in order to holdthe bolts or devices 68 in place.

When the supporting means supports the motor resiliently, the cars 52,52 are connected with the partition 30 by means of a plurality ofresilient connections gen-- erally indicated at 58, 58. One ear 52 andone connection 58 are illustrated in detail in Fig. 3. -In saidresilient connection 58, a rubber grommet 60 is fitted within a hole inthe partition 30 adjacent the opening 34, said grommet having a centralbushing 62 therein. Preferably, in order ,to provide a larger bearingarea for the grommet 60, a small plate 64 is welded or otherwise securedto the partition and has a hole for the grommet which has the samediameter as that in the partition. One side of the grommet engages thecorresponding clip or ear 52. At the opposite side of the grommet is awasher 66. The before-mentioned bolt 68 extends through said bushing 62and through a hole in the washer 66. The before described parts tightlyfit each other so that the bolt 68 is firmly held against movement. Uponassembly, the bolt 68 extends through a hole in the car 52.

The motor 36 and the motor mounting means, including the strap 5! andthe ears 52, 52, may be connected or assembled with each other outsideof the housing and this subassembly may be moved inwardly through theassembly opening 23. In so moving, the radially projecting elements 52,52 move toward the partition and they engage said partition at the sidethereof that faces the assembly opening. The subassembly is located withthe bolts 68 extending through the holes or apertures in the ears 52.Then the nuts 70 are engaged with the bolts to hold the entiresubassembly in place, said nuts being accessible through the assemblyopening 23 and said nuts constituting devices operable after assemblyfor connecting the cars 52, 52 with the partition. By means of saidconnections 58, 58 and said nuts the motor mounting means and the motorare firmly but resiliently connected with the partition plate 30.

Preferably the holes in the ears 52 are somewhat larger than the bolts68. Immediately after assembly the bolts 70 are preferably not finallytightened at the outset, but are tightened only sufliciently to preventfree movement of the motor. Then the motor is checked for concentricityof its shaft with the intake openings 22 and 23. If any eccentricity isfound, the larger sizes of said holes for the bolts permit the necessarycorrection to be made.

A conducting cable 72 for supplying current to the motor 36 extendsupwardly through an insulating bushing in the lower portion of theperipheral housing wall 14 and then to the motor. As shown in Fig. 3, atleast one electrical connecting Wire 74- is engaged by the head of acorresponding one of the bolts 68 and said wire 74 is soldered orotherwise connected with the plate 64. This wire provides a groundingconnection for the motor supporting strap 50 and for the casing 37 ofthe motor.

It will be apparent that motors differing in exterior size from thedisclosed motor 36 can be readily accommodated by merely substituting astrap similar to the strap 50 but differing in size to accommodate theselected motor. The strap 50 can be smaller than that shown, and thespace between the strap 50 and the periphery of the opening 34 permitslarger straps to be substituted without any necessary change in thepartition.

Figs. 4 to 6 show a motor mounting means embody ing the invention, thismeans being adapted for supporting a motor having a casing 76 and havingcylindrical supporting elements 78 adjacent the ends of the casing. Inaccordance with recognized practice, said supporting elements 78 of themotor are resiliently connected with the casing and other motor parts.The motor mounting means includes a cage which engages said supportingelements 78 of the motor and which is connected with the partition 30.This cage can be varied as to some of its features, but the cage shownin Figs. 4 and 5 is illustrative. The cage comprises two initiallyseparate portions 80, 82 which are sometimes herein referred to as halfportions. The said half portions of the cage include two longitudinallyspaced rings 84 and 86 which respectively surround and engage thesupporting elements 78 of the motor, these rings collectivelyconstituting annular means surrounding and detachably connected with aportion of the motor. The half portions 80 and 82 of the cage alsoinclude circumaxially spaced struts 88, 88 and 90, 90, portions of whichextend longitudinally from said rings and toward the plane of thepartition 30. Each strut 88 or Q0 extends radially outwardly from thecorresponding ring and then longitudinally toward said partition plane,the two portions of each strut being so positioned as to clear thecasing of the largest motor which the cage is adapted to hold. As shown,there are three struts connected with each ring, but the invention isnot so limited. The struts connected respectively with the two rings aresometimes hereinafter referred to as sets of struts.

Preferably and as shown, each ring 84 or 86 is formed of sheet metal andis of such size as to readily receive the corresponding motor supportingelement 78. The ring is split and is provided with ears 92, 92 which canbe drawn toward each other by a screw 94 so as to firmly clamp the ringagainst the corresponding supporting element 78. Preferably, the struts88 and 90 are also formed of sheet metal, but they are preferablyinitially separate from said rings. The struts may be connected with therings by welding or otherwise.

Means is provided adjacent the partition opening 34 for connecting eachof said struts 88, 88 and 90, 90 to said partition 30 so as to supportsaid cage with the motor positioned in the opening 34, as above stated,the motor being mounted with its center of gravity in the plane of saidpartition.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the severalstruts of each set are respectively in approximate longitudinalalignment with those of the other set so as to constitute pairs ofstruts. The two struts of each pair may be in engagement with each.

other, although this is not always essential. When the two struts ofeach pair engage each other as shown in Figs. 4' and 5, means separatefrom the partition 30 may be provided for connecting the two struts ofeach pair with each other. As shown, screws or bolts 96, 96 are providedfor this purpose. Said struts may be so constructed and arranged thatthey can be connected in longitudinally different relative positions inorder to vary the spacing between the rings 84 and 86 and in order tothus enable the cage to accommodate motors of different lengths. Asshown, each strut 88 of one set is pro vided with a plurality ofuniformly spaced holes 98 and each strut 90 of the other set is providedwith a plurality of similarly spaced holes 100. Said screws or bolts 96'extend through registering holes 98 and 100 in the struts of each pairto hold said struts in adjusted positions.

The means shown in Figs. 4 to 6 for connecting the struts to thepartition includes a plurality of outwardly extending ears on the strutsof the several pairs. Said ears are shown as being parts of L-shapedclips 102, 102, one clip being provided for each pair of struts. Eachclip has a short longitudinal leg and a longer radial leg constitutingthe ear. Each clip 102 has an aperture in its longitudinal leg throughwhich the correspond ing screw or bolt 96 extends, the clip being thusrigidly connected with the struts of the corresponding pair. Each clip102 has an aperture in its radial leg or ear and a screw or bolt 104extends through the last said aperture and through a correspondingaperture in the partition 30.

In order that the motor and cage may be easily assembled, as a unit orsubassembly, with said housing and said partition, threaded means areprovided which are in permanent positions adjacent the last saidpartition apertures and which are adapted to receive and engage thebolts 104. Thus, the cage and motor may be entered as a subassemblythrough the right intake or assembly opening 23 and then saidsubassembly may be moved toward the left until the ears of the clips102, 102 engage the partition 30. Finally, the bolts 104, 104 may beinserted toward the left and engaged with said permanent threaded meanson the partition.

Said permanent threaded means may comprise nuts 106, one of which isshown in Fig. 6. Each of these nuts 106 is held in place on thepartition by fingers 107, 107 formed integrally with the partition andbent outwardly therefrom. With the nut 106 in place, the fingers 107,107 are bent around the edges of the nut to hold it. The fingers 107loosely engage the nuts 106 so that said nuts are movable within narrowlimits. The several screws or bolts #104 when engaged with the nutsserve to hold the motor cage and the motor in the required positions.Immediately after assembly the bolts 104 are preferably not finallytightened at the outset, but are tightened only sufficiently to preventfree movement of the motor. Then the motor is checked for concentricityas fully explained in connection with Figs. 1 to 3.

It will be observed that the several holes 98, 100 in the struts of eachpair are so located in relation to the dimensions of the clips 102 thatthe rings 84 and 86 are uniformly spaced from the central plane of thepartition 30 when the clips 102 engage one face of the partition asshown in Fig. 5. This enables the cage to hold the motor with its centerof gravity in or approximately in the plane of the partition.

The motor mounting cage shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is generally similar tothat shown in Figs. 4- to 6, but it differs in omitting any provisionfor relative adjustment between the struts of the two sets. Said motormounting cage comprises two separate half portions 108 and 109 which maybe identical instruction. The struts of the cage-portions 108 and 109"are indicated at 110 and 112 and these struts are or may be similar tothe struts 88 and 90as concerns their connection with the rings 84 and86. The struts 1'10 and 112 are provided with outtwo cars of each pairof struts have registering apertures and a companion aperture is formedin the partition 30. Screws or bolts 118 extend through the saidapertures to hold the cage and the motor in the required position.Captive nuts 120, 120 may be provided similar to the nut 106 shown inFig. 6. As stated, the two half portions of the cage may be exactlyalike. In order that the two rings 84 and 86 may be equally spaced fromthe central plane of the partition 30, at least a portion of thepartition 30 is offset to permit the two ears 114- and 116 to bepositioned at opposite sides of the said central plane. As shown inFigs. 7 and 8, an annular portion 122 of the partition 30 is offset andthe car 114 engages this offset portion.

Instead of an anular offset 122 in the partition, there may be aplurality of smaller otfsets 124, one for each pair of ears. One suchoffset is shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 10 shows a detail alternative to that shown in Fig. 9. Thepartition 30 has a notch 126 to receive the ears 114 and 116 on thestruts, and there is provided a plate 128, separate from the partitionand spanning the notch. This plate provides the necessary offset forholding said ears.

With the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, or in Fig. 9 or Fig. 10,the two portions of the motor supporting cage can be assembled with themotor in a location at the outside of the housing 10, but the two struts110 and 112 of each pair are not directly connected with each .otherindependently of the partition. However, the ears 114 and 116 of eachpair are substantially in contact and they are held in substantiallyfixed relationship with each other by reason of the engagement of therings 54 and 56 with the supporting elements 78 of the motor. Thus, themotor mounting cage and the motor constitute a unit or subassembly whichcan be moved into the housing through one of the air intake openings, inthis case, the intake opening 23 at the right as viewed in Fig. 2. Withthe last-mentioned subassembly in position, it can be connected by meansof the bolts 118, 118 which engage the nuts 120, 120.

The motor mounting cage shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is generally similar tothose shown in Figs. 6 and 8, butit differs in that there is noprovision for any direct engagement between the struts of the two sets.The alternative struts are indicated at 130 and 132 and these are or maybe similar to the before-described struts. The struts 130 and 132 haveoutwardly bent ears 134 and 136 similar to the ears 114 and 116 but saidears 134 and 136 are so located that they engage the partition 30 atopposite sides thereof. Said struts 130 and 132 are not in directengagement with each other. The two ears of each pair of struts haveregistering apertures and a companion aperture is formed in thepartition 30. Screws or bolts 138 extend through apertures in the earsand in the partition to hold the cage and the motor in the requiredposition.

When the cage is constructed as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the twoportions of the motor supporting cage cannot be assembled with the motorin a location at the outside of the housing 10. One half portion of thecage such as that at the right, with or without the motor, must be firstput in place through the corresponding intake opening and then the otherhalf portion of the cage, without or with the motor, must be put inplace through the opposite intake opening. Finally both half portions ofthe cage are secured in place by the same screws 138, 138.

The motor mounting cage shown in Figs. 13 and 14 is very similar to thatshown in Figs. 11 and 12, but it difiers in the provision of means forthe attachment of each half portion to the partition independently ofthe other half portion. The. two half portions of the cage are rela- I 81 tively turned so that the several struts are out of register with eachother. The struts are connected with the partition 30 at one sidethereof by screws 140, and

. the struts 132 are connected with the partition 30 at the oppositeside thereof by separate screws 142.

. Either half portion of the cage, with or without the motor, can be putin place first and can be connected to the partition. Then the otherhalf portion of the cage, without or with the motor, is put in place,said second half portion of the cage being connected to the partitionseparately from the first half portion.

The invention claimed is:

' 1. In a blower unit, the combination of a housing including parallelside Walls respectively having circular intake openings concentric witha common central axis, one of said openings being adapted for motorassembly therethrough, a thin partition in said housing parallel withand midway between said side walls and having a relatively large openingthrough which said central axis extends which last said opening issmaller than the assembly opening, an electric motor including a casingsubstantially smaller than said partition opening and located thereinand also including a drive shaft concentric with said central axis andhaving projecting end portions which motor further includes twocylindrical supporting elements adjacent the opposite ends of thecasing, two air impellers secured respectively to the projectingportions of said motor shaft and respectively adjacent said intakeopenings, a separate motor mounting cage including two longitudinallyspaced rings respectively fixedly connected with said supportingelements of said motor which cage has two separate half portions each ofwhich includes one of said rings and each of which also includescircumaxially spaced struts extending longitudinally from thecorresponding ring and toward the plane of said partition, said mountingcage further including elements extending radially outwardly from thestruts and each having a face parallel with the partition at a positionspaced outwardly from the partition opening and at the side of thepartition facing the assembly opening, said motor and said mounting cagein their fixedly connected relationship with each other being smallerthan said assembly opening and therefore adapted to be assembled in anaxial direction through said assembly opening to bring said faces of theradially extending elements closely adjacent the partition, and meansoperable after assembly and accessible and operable through the assemblyopening for connecting said radially extending elements with saidpartition.

2. In a blower unit, the combination of a housing including parallelside walls respectively having circular intake openings concentric witha common central axis, a thin partition in said housing parallel withand midway between said side walls and having a relatively large openingthrough which said central axis extends, an electric motor including acasing smaller than said partition opening and located thereinsymmetrically with respect to the plane of said partition which motoralso includes a drive shaft concentric with said central axis and havingprojecting end portions and which motor further includes two cylindricalsupporting elements adjacent the opposite ends of the casing, two airimpellers secured respectively to the projecting portions of said motorshaft and respectively adjacent said intake openings, a motor mountingcage including two longitudinally spaced rings respective'ly engagingsaid supporting elements of said motor and also including two similarsets of circumaxially spaced struts connected respectively with saidrings and extending longitudinally therefrom toward the plane of saidpartition which struts of each set are respectively in approximatelongitudinal alignment with those of the other set to constitute pairsof struts, said mounting cage further including elements extendingradially outwardly connecting the struts of each of said pairs to apartition such as that aforesaid so as to support said case and anengaged motor in a central position with said motor supporting elementsequally spaced from the plane of said partition.

9. In a blower unit, the combination of a housing including parallelside walls respectively having circular intake openings concentric witha common central axis, one of said openings being adapted for motorassembly therethrough, a thin partition in said housing parallel withand midway between said side walls and having a relatively large openingthrough which said central axis extends which last said opening issmaller than the assembly opening, an electric motor including a casingsubstantially smaller than said partition opening and located thereinsymmetrically with respect to the plane of said partition, which motoralso includes a drive shaft concentric with said central axis and havingprojecting end portions and which motor further includes two cylindricalsupporting elements adjacent the opposite ends of the casing, two airimpellers secured respectively to the projecting portions of said motorshaft and respectively adjacent said intake openings, a motor mountingcage including two longitudinally spaced rings respectively engagingsaid supporting elements of said motor and also including circumaxiallyspaced struts extending longitudinally from each of said rings andtoward the plane of said partition which struts are provided withoutwardly bent cars at their inner ends which ears have their outerportions spaced outwardly from the partition opening, the

motor and the cage when connected with each other being smaller thansaid assembly opening and therefore adapted to be assembled through saidassembly opening, and connecting means including devices located insubstantially fixed positions on the partition adjacent and spacedoutwardly from said opening therein and further including relativelymovable devices respectively engageable with the said fixed devicesafter assembly of said motor and mounting cage through said assemblyopening, said relatively movable devices being engageable with theradially projecting elements of the mounting cage and said devices beingaccessible through said assembly opening and being manipulabletherethrough so that they are engaged with said fixed devices to holdsaid motor mounting cage and said motor in place.-

10. In a blower unit, the combination of a housing including parallelside walls respectively having circular intake openings concentric witha common central axis, one of said openings being adapted for motorassembly therethrough, a thin partition in said housing parallel withand midway between said side walls and having a relatively large openingthrough which said central axis extends, an electric motor including acasing substantially smaller than said partition opening and locatedtherein symmetrically with respect to the plane of said partition whichmotor also includes a drive shaft concentric with said central axis andhaving projecting end portions and which motor further includes twocylindrical supporting elements adjacent the opposite ends of thecasing, two air impellers secured respectively to the projectingportions of said motor shaft and respectively adjacent said intakeopenings, a motor mounting cage including two longitudinally spacedrings respectively engaging said supporting elements of said motor andalso including two similar sets of circumaxially spaced struts connectedrespectively with said rings and extending longitudinally therefromtoward the plane of said partition, the several struts of each set beingrespectively in approximate longitudinal alignment with those of theother set to constitute pairs of struts and all of said struts beingprovided with outwardly bent ears at their inner ends which ears havetheir outer portions spaced outwardly from the partition opening, themotor and the cage when connected with each other being smaller thansaid assembly opening and therefore adapted to be assembled through saidassembly opening, and connecting means including devices located insubstantially fixed positions on the partition adjacent and spacedoutwardly from said opening therein and further including relativelymovable devices respectively engageable with the said fixed devicesafter assembly of said motor and mounting cage through said assemblyopening, said relatively movable devices being engageable with theradially projecting elements of the mounting cage and said devices beingaccessible through said assembly opening and being manipulabletherethrough so that they are engaged with said fixed devices to holdsaid motor mounting cage and said motor in place.

11. A blower unit as set forth in claim 10, wherein portions of thecentral partition are offset so that the said ears of each pair are atopposite sides of the central plane of the partition.

12. In a blower unit, the combination of a housing including parallelside walls respectively having circular intake openings concentric witha common central axis, a thin partition in said housing parallel withand midway between said side walls and having a relatively large openingthrough which said central axis extends, an electric motor located insaid partition opening and including a casing symmetrically positionedwith respect to the plane of said partition which motor also includes adrive shaft concentric with said central axis and having projecting endportions and which motor further includes two cylindrical supportingelements adjacent the opposite ends of the casing, two air impellerssecured respectively to the projecting portions of said motor shaft andrespectively adjacent said intake openings, a motor mounting cageincluding two longitudinally spaced rings respectively engaging saidsupporting elements of said motor and also including two similar sets ofcircumaxially spaced struts connected respectively with said rings andextending longitudinally therefrom toward the plane of said partition,the several struts of each set being respectively in approximatelongitudinal alignment with those of the other set to constitute pairsof struts and the said struts being provided with outwardly bent ears attheir inner ends and the two ears on the struts of each pair being atopposite sides of said partition, and means adjacent said partitionopening for connecting the ears of said struts to said partition so asto support said cage with the motor positioned as before stated and withits center of gravity at least approximately in the plane of i saidpartition.

between said side walls and having a relatively large opening throughwhich said central axis extends, an electric motor located in saidpartition opening and including a casing symmetrically positioned withrespect to the plane of said partition which motor also includes a driveshaft concentric with said central axis and having projecting endportions and which motor further includes two cylindrical supportingelements adjacent the opposite ends of the casing, two air impellerssecured respectively to the projecting portions of said motor shaft andrespectively adjacent said intake openings, a motor mounting cageincluding two longitudinally spaced rings respectively engaging saidsupporting elements of said motor and also including two similar sets ofcircumaxially spaced struts connected respectively with said rings andextending longitudinally therefrom toward the plane of said partition, afirst means adjacent said partition opening for connecting the struts ofone set to said partition, and separate second means adjacent saidpartition opening for connecting the struts of the other set to saidpartition, the two said connecting means serving to support g from thestruts of each pair and connectible with the partition at positionsspaced outwardly from the partition of opening and at the side of thepartition facing the assembly opening, and means adjacent said partitionopening for connecting the several outwardly extending elements of saidcage to said partition.

3. A motor mounting cage for use with a motor having longitudinallyspaced supporting elements, said cage including two longitudinallyspaced rings having a common axis and respectively engageable withlongitudinally spaced supporting elements such as aforesaid and saidcage also including two similar sets of structurally separatecircumaxially spaced struts extending longitudinally from each of saidrings and toward a central plane between them, elements extendingradially outwardly from the struts and engageable with a partition atsaid central plane, and means for connecting each of said radiallyextending elements to a partition such as that aforesaid, the last saidmeans being so located that they support said cage and an engaged motorin a central position with said motor supporting elements equally spacedfrom said central plane.

4. In a blower unit, the combination of a housing including parallelside walls respectively having circular intake openings concentric witha common central axis, a thinpartition in said housing parallel with andmidway between said side walls and having a relatively large openingthrough which said central axis extends, an electric motor including acasing substantially smaller than said partition opening and locatedtherein symmetrically with respect to the plane of said partition whichmotor also includes a drive shaft concentric with said central axis andhaving projecting end portions and which motor further includes twocylindrical supporting elements adjacent the opposite ends of thecasing, two air impellers secured respectively to the projectingportions of said motor shaft and respectively adjacent said intakeopenings, a motor mounting cage including two longitudinally spacedrings respectively engaging said supporting ele ments of said motor andalso including two similar sets of circurnaxially spaced strutsconnected respectively with said rings and extending longitudinallytherefrom toward the plane of said partition which struts of each setare respectively in direct engagement with those of the other set. toconstitute pairs of struts, said mounting cage further includingelements extending radially outwardly from the struts of each pair andconnectible with the partition at positions spaced outwardly from thepartition of opening and at the side of the partition facing theassembly opening, and means adjacent said partition opening forconnecting the several outwardly extending elements of said cage to saidpartition.

5. In a blower unit, the combination of a housing in cluding parallelside walls respectively having circular intake openings concentric with.a common central axis, one of said openings being adapted for motorassembly therethrough, a thin partition in said housing parallel withand midway'between saidside walls and having a relatively large openingthrough which said central axis extends which opening is smaller thanthe assembly opening, said. partition having a plurality of holestherein adjacent said large opening, nuts at the side of the partitionopposite said assembly opening and in register with the last said holes,means on the partition for holding said nuts and permitting transverseadjustment thereof, an electric motor including a casing located in saidpartition opening and a drive shaft concentric with said central axisand having projecting end portions which motor further includes twocylindrical supporting elements adjacent the opposite ends of thecasing, two air impellers secured respectively to the projectingportions of said motor shaft and respectively adjacent said intakeopenings, a motor mounting cage including two longitudinally spacedrings respectively engaging said supporting elements of said motor andalso including circumaxially spaced struts extending longitudinally fromeach of said rings and toward the plane of said partition and further.including apertured ears rigidly connected with said struts which earsextend radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said partition openingand are at the side of said partition facing said assembly opening, saidstruts and ears being arranged in pairs with the ears of each pairengaging each other, said motor and cage in their fixedly connectedrelationship being smaller than said partition opening and thereforeadapted to be assembled in an axial direction through said assemblyopening so that one of the ears of each of the several pairs isengageable with the partition at the side thereof facing said assemblyopening with the apertures in the ears registering with said holes insaid partition, longitudinal bolts extending through the apertures inthe ears and the holes in the partition and engaging said nuts forholding said cage and said motor in place.

6. In a blower unit, the combination of a housing including parallelside walls respectively having circular intake openings concentric witha common central axis, a thin partition in said housing parallel withand midway between said side walls and having a relatively large openingthrough which said central axis extends, an electric motor located insaid partition opening and including a casing symmetrically positionedwith respect to the plane of said partition which motor also includes adrive shaft concentric with said central axis and having projecting endportions and which motor further includes two cylindrical supportingelements adjacent the opposite ends of the casing, two air impellerssecured respectively to the projecting portions of said motor shaft andrespectively adjacent said intake openings, a motor mounting cageincluding two longitudinally spaced rings respectively engaging saidsupporting elements of said motor and also including two similar sets ofcircumaxially spaced struts connected respectively with said rings andextending longitudinally therefrom toward the plane of said partition,the several struts of each set being res ectively in approximatelongitudinal alignment with those of the other set to constitute pairsof struts, means separate from the partition for connectingthe struts ofeach pair with each other so that said mounting cage and said motorconstitute a unit which canbe moved into the housing through one of theair intake openings, and means adjacent said partition opening forconnecting the struts of each pair to said partition so as to supportsaid cage with the motor positioned as before stated and with its centerof gravity at least approximately in the plane of said partition.

7. A blower unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein the means forconnecting the struts of each pair with each other is constructed andarranged to enable them to be so connected in longitudinally differentrelative positions to accommodate motors of different lengths, andwherein said means for connecting said pairs of struts to said partitionis constructed and arranged to enable said rings to be equally spacedlongitudinally from the plane of said partition notwithstandingdifferent relative positions of said struts,

8. A motor mounting cage for use in a blower unit including a housinghaving an interior partition with a relatively large opening therein,said cage including two longitudinally spaced rings having a common axisand respectively engageable with the longitudinally spaced supportingelements of an electric motor and said cage also including two similarsets of circumaxially spaced struts connected respectively with saidrings and extending longitudinally therefrom and toward a central planebetween them, the several struts of each set being respectively inapproximate longitudinal alignment with those of the other set toconstitute pairs, and means for said cage with the motor positioned asbefore stated and with its center of gravity at least approximately inthe plane of said partition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 14Schroeder June 22, 1920 Anderson Nov. 11, 1930 Cotton et al Sept. 29,1942 Bretzlafi et a1. July 27, 1943 Goettl Oct. 28, 1952 Burrowes Aug.17, 1954 Eiserman Nov. 26, 1957 McLean Mar. 4, 1958

